In the 1930s, the Great Plains of America faced a drought that
had never been seen before or since. Drought and dust storms
rampaged across six states, affecting 100 million acres and
effectively damaging the United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ecology and agriculture
throughout the decade. A series of untested and untried methods
and actions brought about such destruction. Ignorance destroyed
lives and homes, intensifying the economic impact of the Great
Depression throughout the region. Ignorance of environmental
conditions caused such a reaction of the landscape.

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

A series of acts all moved urban poor west to start new, rural
lives. Farming by inexperienced farmers and encouragement by
government aid created arid conditions, ultimately leading to dust
storms of stripped topsoil. Through the New Deal, changes were
made which affected many poor rural regions; however. It was
not until the Dust Bowl began that the government attempted to
prevent the destruction. Of course, it was too late for many. Most
families were displaced and suffered more than they had as urban
poor.

Today, 72% of the United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; land area belongs to rural districts;
however, as of 2014, roughly 15% of the population inhabits these
areas. These counties are dependent on farming, manufacturing,
or resource extraction with a poverty rate of 18.1%. Chronic health
conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are more
likely to be found in rural America. Suicide rates are almost double
in rural America than in urban America, often attributed to social
isolation and difficulty accessing healthcare.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 001 _ AGENDA

A car is chased by a â&#x20AC;&#x153;black blizzardâ&#x20AC;? in the Texas Panhandle, March 1936. Arthur Rothstein.

In a time of political controversy, in a time when no one is sure
what is to become of our country, in a time when we refuse to
acknowledge our ecological impacts, we must unite together on a
front of rebellion. We must leave behind a more beautiful, pastoral
landscape, a more peaceful area, a territory we know will continue
to exist for generations to come. Our predecessors left us a world
of waste and ruin. Our world decays around us, day be day. Now
that we have put a man on the moon, and sent probes into deep
space, and landed crafts on Mars, what is there to do?

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

Continue destroying our world in the hopes we may find another
planet to provide us refuge? Not I. Not those who understand. Not
those who realize we must restore our inheritance to its former
magnificence. In new communities, we will see how detrimental
the effect of urban and suburban sprawl are to our landscape and
environment. Though some changes are not immediately visible,
they are still quantifiable, showing dismal and unfavorable results.
Our new president wants us to believe that climate change does not
exist. Something in this political system disturbs me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ignorance.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 001 _ AGENDA

06
02

M A N I F E S TO

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

We must rectify our ignorance and work together to improve our
societies in a way that would better the country for generations to
come. For this reason, I am interested in exploring a combination
of Utopian ideals in the context of the rural landscape; however, we
have approached habitation in an incorrect and unjustified manner.
Instead of sprawling around the urban landscape, we must rethink
our approach to the Jeffersonian grid. Instead of giving each man
one mile to work in one day, we must build communities around
the Jeffersonian grid.
There are five pillars which communities revolve and build
themselves around: arts, education, history/literature, civil, and
judicial. Each is required to make a community work and have
equal importance. The Amish have lived in a similar manner,
without technology. I suggest we strive to build similarly structured
communities which radiate and reevaluate the possibility of rural
Utopia. By investing our most modern and advanced technologies
in new, small townships, we can repair landscapes which have
been ravaged by time and poor climate conditions; perhaps these
changes will be allowed to, one day, interface into our urban
societies. Instead of communities based on economic, capitalistic
hubs, the people will once again become focused on our natural
landscape and how these improvements in rural conditions can
reconstruct not only our climates, but also our society. Naysayers
must be addressed and must come to terms with the lack of
renewable and worthwhile energy resources. Otherwise, we will
ultimately over-farm our lands, become a society focused on
pecuniary advances, and lead to the destruction of ourselves, our
culture, and our country.
ELIZABETH CARTER | 002 _ MANIFESTO

06
03

D I S C O U R S E

AMISH COMMUNITY

NEW HOLLAND, PENNSYLVANIA

The Amish devote their lives to farming and integrating agriculture
into their familial life. While farms remain small to be manageable
by family units without electricity or modern technology, they
are consistently productive, serving to meet the needs of the
community rather than earn large profits. Communities like New
Holland are expected to double in population within the next twelve
years. These communities will serve as a template for technological
utopias for the modern world.

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

UTOPIAN COMMUNITY
NEW HARMONY, INDIANA

New Harmony was successful during its tenure under the Harmonie
Society. It failed as a community when sold to an incompetent
leader. New Harmony contributed heavily to American society. A
few of their contributions include free education available to men
and women and free libraries. New Harmony still exists today, 0.65
by 0.64 miles.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 003 _ DISCOURSE

NEW DEAL COMMUNITY
CROSSVILLE, TENNESSEE

The Cumberland Homesteads were a planned New Deal Community
in response to the Great Depressionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s affect in Cumberland County,
Tennessee. Thousands of unemployed miners, textile mill workers,
and farmers applied for one of 250 positions within the community.
Cultural importance is integrated into each building as each
family was responsible for building their home and outbuildings
with the latest technologies. While the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main goal failed,
the community survives today. The idea of integrating cultural
importance is integral to the proposed technological utopia.

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

FARMSTEAD COMMUNITY
YORK, NEBRASKA

Organized as a cooperative farmstead, the community was founded
as a way of promoting neighborliness and civic engagement. Six
to ten families on relief were resettled to build their own homes,
plant gardens, and begin cooperative businesses. This community
is analogous to many other rural communities, exhibiting a
proportionally older population than urban areas, less education,
lower incomes (proportional to the cost of living), are majority
Caucasian, and lack medical care.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 003 _ DISCOURSE

Map of Westworld. HBO.

FICTIONAL COMMUNITY
WESTWORLD

This fictional complex contains a whole world complete with
western scenery, towns, and robots with artificial intelligence
capable of following story lines without tending. Westworld
promises experience without real-world consequences. Bliss,
escape, freedom, and thrills are guaranteed to all who would
venture into the complex. While there are no real world statistics,
the idea of building around a landscape and creating an idyllic
society is intriguing. Here we see the blending of an outdated
realm in accordance with technological advances that are merely
dreamed of today, a model for the proposed technological utopia.

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

Octagon House Plan. Wikipedia.

FAILED COMMUNITY
OCTAGON CITY, KANSAS

This failed vegetarian commune never existed due to lack of
leadership and provisions for the establishing members. The ideal
community was designed octagonally, taking influence from Orson
Squire Fowler. Eight roads would radiate from an octagonal town
square, between which, sixty-four families would build octagonal
farmhouses with octagonal barns in four-square-mile areas. The
idea of radiation will be applied within this proposed technological
utopia.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 003 _ DISCOURSE

Latham Architectural Photography.

VISION HOUSE
TUSCON, ARIZONA

An entire neighborhood, Armory Park del Sol, is capable of
generating its own power. By utilizing traditional Mission style
architecture in tandem with the latest energy efficient components
and techniques, they were capable of developing a zero energy
home. The Vision Home is connected to utility, drawing electricity
when needed, but rolling the meter back when electricity is
generated.

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

A 4.2-kilowatt PV array and integrated solar water and space
heating system contribute to its lack of energy use. The home is
built using solid masonry with insulation and efficient windows to
keep out unwanted heat. Heat is also prevented via reflective roof
coating and radiant barrier roof decking. The home cost about
20% more to build than other homes in the neighborhood, but is
expected to pay for itself in energy costs.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 003 _ DISCOURSE

Courtyard. Frank Ooms.

NATIONAL LABORATORY
GOLDEN, COLORADO

The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory used a performance-based design-build
contract to construct the most energy efficient office building in
the world. It is a showcase for sustainable, high performance design
that incorporates the best in energy efficiency, environmental
performance, and advanced controls using a “whole building”
integrated design process. The assembly serves as a model for
cost-competitive, high energy performance commercial building
for the nation’s design, construction, operation, and financing
communities.

The Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
won the 2014 AIA COTE Top Ten and is a landmarked net-zero
facility. The century old building is the first net-zero facility on the
National Register. New energy interventions include a roof-canopymounted, 123-killowatt PV array, which generates enough electricity
on site to power 15 average homes. The project demonstrates the
importance of investment in low-tech measures to dramatically
increase energy efficiency.

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

Upgrades include insulation addition to the building shell,
installation of storm windows with solar control film to preserve
exterior appearance, a 32-well geothermal exchange system,
fluorescent and LED lighting upgrades, and post-occupancy
monitoric capabilities, all of which contribute to the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s netzero design. Original fenestration was preserved while daylighting
was increased by addition of a skylight and perimeter ceiling zones
free of building services.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 003 _ DISCOURSE

06
04

P R O PAG A N DA

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

ELIZABETH CARTER | 004 _ PROPAGANDA

Utopia is a scaled, net-zero, closed system city.
Utopia is where people live a mostly agrarian lifestyle. Occupations
are merely necessary, but held only by those who choose not to
participate in agrarian tasks.
Utopia is where life is lived only with necessity. Technology exists,
but consumerism is eradicated and moderate in participation.
Utopia is where everything is within walking distance. Public
transportation is for traveling distances over two miles. (Ultimately,
distance should not be exceeded by the community.)
HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

A series of moves to be distilled and recontextualized.
“Updated Amish” – a counter-reaction to today’s lifestyles
The technologies we use today are propelling the Great Plains into
a second Dust Bowl. We must reevaluate these tehniques in terms
of supporting the landscape and those who farm it.
Why the hell, are these tiny, rural towns built at the scale of the car?
Adaptable to different climate conditions
Everything that is good takes time.
ELIZABETH CARTER | 004 _ PROPAGANDA

co-operative community will be built in the following spaces
Primary _ community space and education
Secondary _ market, government, and financial
Tertiary _ living spaces
Quatenary _ agrarian pastures with orchards and landscape
sculptures at the periphery.
HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

criteria for site selection is as follows
- located between 35° + 45° latitude
- located in climates considered mixed humid (4), cool humid (5),
cool dry (5b), cold humid (6), or cold dry (6b)
- must be grouped no less than four, no more than a hundred miles
apart in at least two different climates
The areas explored within this declaration are based around an
idea, similar to Shaker communities. Communities are located in
groups such that, should one community’s crops not succeed,
another community may be capable to assist. Suggested here
are ten communities.
To the north, two communities within the cold humid (6) and
cold dry (6b) climates each and one community within the cool
humid (5) and cool dry (5b) climates each.
To the south, one community within the cool humid (5) and cool
dry (5b) climates each and two communities within the mixed
humid (4) climate alone.
The intention is that these groups act as precedent for future
developments.
ELIZABETH CARTER | 005 _ PROCLAMATION

Bowen is located at approximately 4849 feet above sea level. It
receives an average rainfall of 17.12 inches and an average snowfall
of 47 inches, precipitating the most overall in May. The annual high
temperature is 57.8°F (lowest 35°; highest 85°) with an annual low
temperature of 31.5°F (lowest 11°; highest 55°). The wind prevails to
the west-north-west during the winter months at over 11 mph, while
it prevails to the south-east as well as the west-north-west during
the summer months.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 005 _ PROCLAMATION

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

loess

claystone

juniper (Juniperus communis)

winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata)

mountian-mahogany (Cercocarpus)

saltbrush (Atriplex)

spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa)

ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)

NORTH SITE | 5B | UTOPIA B

GOSHEN COUNTY, WYOMING [42.255345, -104.190940]

Goshen County is located at approximately 4239 feet above sea
level. It receives an average rainfall of 14.73 inches and an average
snowfall of 25 inches, precipitating the most overall in May. The
annual high temperature is 62.4°F (lowest 39°; highest 88°) with an
annual low temperature of 30.2°F (lowest 11°; highest 53°).The wind
prevails to the west-north-west during the winter months at over
11 mph, while it prevails to the south as well as the west-north-west
during the summer months.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 005 _ PROCLAMATION

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

limestone

claystone

black hills or white spruce (Picea glauca)

buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides)

blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

needle and thread grass (Hesperostipa comata)

western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii)

sandburg bluegrass (Poa secunda)

new zealand wire vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa)

NORTH SITE | 6 | UTOPIA C

EDGEMONT, SOUTH DAKOTA [43.056858, -103.799850]

Edgemont is located at approximately 3609 feet above sea level. It
receives an average rainfall of 16.29 inches and an average snowfall
of 33 inches, precipitating the most overall in June. The annual high
temperature is 62.6°F (lowest 36°; highest 91°) with an annual low
temperature of 32.8°F (lowest 8°; highest 59°). The wind prevails
to the north-north-west during the winter months at over 11 mph,
while it prevails to the north-north-west as well as the south-east
during the summer months. Utopia D – Rapid City, South Dakota
[43.941318, -103.146377] – is also located in climate 6, with almost
identical geological and vegetative properties.

ELIZABETH CARTER | 005 _ PROCLAMATION

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

loess

claystone

Guernsey limestone

winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata)

mountian-mahogany (Cercocarpus)

saltbrush (Atriplex)

spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa)

ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)

juniper (Juniperus communis)

NORTH SITE | 6B | UTOPIA E

NEWCASTLE, WYOMING [43.586841,-104.105966]

Newcastle is located at approximately 4314 feet above sea level.
It receives an average rainfall of 16.45 inches and an average
snowfall of 40 inches, precipitating the most overall in May. The
annual high temperature is 60.6°F (lowest 35°; highest 89°) with
an annual low temperature of 34.2°F (lowest 13; highest 59°). The
wind prevails to the south-west during the winter months at over 11
mph, while it prevails to the west-south-west as well as the southwest during the summer months. Utopia F – Niobrara County,
Wyoming [43.048187, -104.357482] – is also located in climate 6B,
with almost identical geological and vegetative properties.

SOUTH SITES | UTOPIAS G - J
These sites are located at an average approximately 3469 feet
above sea level (ranging from 3058 to 4072). They receive an
average rainfall of 17.68 inches and an average snowfall of 17.6
inches, precipitating the most overall in June. The annual high
temperature is 68°F (lowest 43°; highest 92°) with an annual low
temperature of 38.5°F (lowest 14°; highest 65°). The wind prevails
to the north and south equally during the winter months at over
11 mph, while it prevails to the south as well as the south-east
during the summer months. These sites are located within 150
miles at most of each other, thus allowing for such condensing
of information.

one home based on a family of two
- living room | 250 square feet (increases size by 100% for every
additional four family members)
- kitchen with dining space, and pantry | 250 square feet
(increases size by 25% per every additional two family members)
- laundry and mechanical room | 30 square feet
- bedroom | 150 square feet (increases number by every
additional family member as needed)
- bathrooms | one half bathroom of 25 square feet (one half
bathroom for every four bedrooms) and one full bathroom of
50 square feet (one master bathroom for every two bedrooms)
- outdoor room | 100 square feet
- garage | 200 square feet for one car (increases size by 100% for
every four family members)
- garden shed | 50 square feet of storage connected to garage
program for quatenary space _ agrarian spaces
- homestead field | 40 acres per agrarian home
- orchard | 1 acre per agrarian home
- landscape sculptures | located at periphery of agrarian space
on side of prevailing wind
- produce storage | located between each field to store and
process produced crops
HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

This project is based on the idea of readapting the Jeffersonian
grid that is so prevalent in the western states. By creating a
site, one mile in diameter, the idea to create communities which
support exclusively themselves becomes possible with the work of
collaborative farming.
This project details the conditions of site materials and climate of
ten sites, while only one example is represented here. Based on the
idea of utopia, the community uses ideal shapes and iterations from
those shapes. Plots are 250 feet by 250 feet, creating manageable
plots to grow what is needed. Fruit and shade trees are dispersed
around a circular, enclosing boulevard to create a pleasant canopy
HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

CROPPED SITE PLAN | HYPOSTYLE HALL

which also contributes to the townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stock.
There is one key building on site, comprised of many different
components. The building begins with an entrance into a
hypostyle hall. The hall allows for commuters to park to engage
in the community, creates an open air market for farmers and
artists to sell their goods, and a place for equipment storage and
maintenance to act as infrastructure of the farming community.
The space is pierced by several vertical elements. The first five give
access to the five pillars of the community: arts, education, history/
literature, judicial, and civil services. The second floor creates one,
openly flowing space to house visitor centers for each of the five
ELIZABETH CARTER | 005 _ PROCLAMATION

main building, as well as space for an enclosed market for hostile
climate conditions, and space for hydroponic farming modules.
Several vertical shafts pierce outside of the five key buildings,
providing access to the roof park, which has been idealized. The
park would include a green lawn, access to the green walls, a stone
terrace, and a structured and idealized park, creating an organized
garden park for visitors and inhabitants to enjoy in favorable
conditions.
The five buildings, built to create programmatic supporting spaces
create spaces to foster the growth and learning of every community
member. The arts building provides the necessary grocery and mall
space to provide a place for produce to be sold when the market
is not open, as well as other necessities for human living such as
clothing and toiletries. The space is built to accommodate maker
spaces, accessible by any inhabitants as well as fellows, selected
every year to inhabit and teach the community about arts and
cultures of other regions which may help the community succeed
in becoming an attraction for others to visit. The tower would allow
for local shop spaces and offices to support the artists-in-residence
as well as other town members and would create living spaces
for those who do not live in the community long term, including
migrant summer workers. The building is capped with an exhibition
space, allowing guest artists, speakers, and artists-in-residence to
show their work throughout the seasons.
The educational building begins with a lobby to direct guests and
new students as necessary. A cafĂŠ has been added to the program
to create a space for group or private study in a simulating
atmosphere. Several floors have been allocated for administrative
offices as well as personal offices for teachers and guest lecturers.

HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

CROPPED SITE PLAN | VISITOR CENTER

CROPPED SITE PLAN | PARK

CROPPED SITE PLAN | PAVILION LEVEL

ELIZABETH CARTER | 005 _ PROCLAMATION

ENTRY VIEW
Classrooms for mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy,
astronomy, English literature, English composition, music history,
art history, American history, world history, foreign languages,
agrarian practices all inhabit one floor each, with technology
being giving two floors. The classroom levels are broken up by a
cafeteria and a gymnasium to allow for easy access between the
multiple floors. Teachers and guest lecturers are contracted on a
yearly basis based on their performance in truly teaching rather
than basing their skills on standardized testing and are given living
accommodations for the yearly term of their contract, expected to
foster the importance of learning and teaching necessary to sustain
the community. The tower is concluded with a gathering pavilion to
HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

ELIZABETH CARTER | 005 _ PROCLAMATION

VIEW OF MAIN EXHIBITION SPACE
be used for religious functions, school programs, and graduation.
An auditorium and theater have been created in the basement to
allow for larger functions requiring more or secondary space.
The library tower is a series of stacks and computer labs capitalized
by a glass reading pavilion. An archival floor is located in the
building basement to allow for storage of documents that may
be sensitive to light or need to be protected from everyday use.
The judicial tower is structured similarly, beginning with attorney
offices, then continued as judicial offices and courtrooms and
finished with a town hall pavilion. The civil services building works
as civil offices, local business offices and local shops. The building
HANSJOERG GOERITZ | DIPLOMA STUDIO _ SPRING 2017

VIEW FROM A DISTANCE
contains living spaces for civil servants and is capped with a green
house pavilion. Town storage is located in the basement for access
to town signage, decoration, and other items which may need to
be stored.
The building basement contains two levels of fallout shelters to
house community members in case of nuclear fallout and to ease
fears which may run rampant in this part of the country concerning
fear of attack.